While many people are used to growing Tulips in their landscaping and flower beds, growing Tulips specifically as a cut flower to be displayed in a vase requires a completely different method and mindset!
Tulips are a popular flower known for their beautiful blooms that come in a variety of colors Many people enjoy cutting tulips from their garden and bringing them indoors to display in a vase This raises an interesting question – do tulips continue growing after being cut? The short answer is yes, tulips can continue growing after being cut under the right conditions.
How Tulips Grow
To understand why tulips can continue growing after cutting, it helps to first understand how they grow. Tulips grow from bulbs that are planted in the fall. The bulbs send up leaves and a flower stalk that continues to elongate and grow taller until the flower buds open.
The leaves and stalk work to gather sunlight and nutrients from the soil, which are transported back to the bulb to fuel new growth. As long as the leaves are present, they can provide energy to the cut flower stalk even after it has been removed from the bulb.
Storing Nutrients
Tulips and other spring bulbs have a specialized ability to store nutrients while dormant. The bulb acts as a storage unit, packed with carbohydrates, proteins, and other compounds manufactured the previous spring and summer.
When growth begins in spring, the bulb has a readily available supply of nutrients and energy to power new growth before the leaves are fully functional. This reserve allows cut tulips access to nutrients even without the bulb attached.
The Role of Water
Another factor that allows cut tulips to continue growing is water. When tulips are cut, their stems are exposed to air which can block their ability to take up water. Recutting the stems under water allows fresh cuts to absorb water.
Placing the freshly cut stems in clean water provides the tulips with the hydration necessary for cellular processes involved in continued elongation of the flower stalk. As long as the water is changed regularly, cut tulips can carry on growing.
Optimal Conditions for Growth
Under the right conditions, cut tulips can continue maturing and even open fully in a vase. Here are some tips to help cut tulips reach their full potential:
- Cut stems on a sharp diagonal to maximize water uptake
- Immediately place stems in warm water after cutting
- Recut stems every 2-3 days
- Use clean vases and replace water frequently
- Keep tulips away from ethylene-producing fruits
- Display tulips in a cool location out of direct sunlight
Providing tulips with proper care helps enable the leaves to supply nutrients and the cut stems to take up water for continued growth.
Duration of Growth After Cutting
The length of time cut tulips can continue growing depends on a few factors:
- Flower maturity – Tulips cut when buds have full color will last longer than tight buds
- Stem length – Longer stems have more capacity to elongate than short stems
- Water quality – Replace water every 2-3 days with fresh, clean water
- Temperature – Cool temperatures between 40-50°F are ideal
Under optimal conditions, cut tulips may grow 1-6 inches taller over the course of 7-10 days. Growth slows as blooms open fully and eventually ceases as flowers and leaves start to die.
Impacts on Bulbs
An important consideration when cutting tulips is the impact on the planted bulb. Removing flowers prevents the plant from reproducing via seed. It also reduces the bulb’s ability to take in sunlight for photosynthesis.
However, the bulb can still gather nutrients through the remaining leaves. As long as ample foliage is left intact, the bulb can regrow the following season. But frequent cutting drastically reduces bulb growth over time.
For best results, cut blooms sparingly the first year after planting and avoid cutting the same bulbs two years in a row. Target older bulbs that may need replacing for cutting flowers.
Maximizing Both Cut Flowers and Return Bloom
Here are some tips to enjoy cut flowers while maintaining bulb growth:
- Plant some bulbs just for cutting separately from landscape plantings
- Remove only 1-2 stems per mature, robust bulb
- Cut stems 6+ inches above the ground to preserve leaves
- Stop cutting blooms once the lower leaves start yellowing
- Allow foliage to fully ripen after bloom before removing
With proper care, it is possible to enjoy tulip blooms indoors while ensuring bulbs regrow for future seasons. Just be selective in which bulbs are cut and how much foliage is removed.
The Takeaway
Tulips can surprisingly continue growing after being cut if provided with fresh water and proper care. While cut tulips won’t grow as vigorously as when rooted in soil, their stored energy reserves allow stems and buds to elongate and mature in a vase. However, cutting flowers does impact the planted bulb’s ability to store nutrients for future growth. With selective cutting and proper bulb care, gardeners can enjoy cut tulips while maintaining bulb performance season after season.
Are there any Tulips that will give me the best of both worlds? A landscape flower AND a cut flower?
Yes. Darwin Hybrid Tulips (like “Apricot Impression”, “Mystic Van Ejke”) and some Single Tulips often have very tall, long stems reaching over 24”. It’s possible to harvest a 10-12” stem for the vase while still leaving nearly all the foliage/leaves on the stem (which is required if you want the bulbs to rebloom the following year).
Most other Tulip varieties are too short to harvest a usable stem while also leaving enough foliage behind. Also remember, cut flower Tulip varieties are bred as Annuals, not Perennials, and will not reliably rebloom even if they are not harvested. The photo below shows where the bloom would need to be cut in order to leave enough foliage on the stem for the bulb to generate. This short stem length is unacceptable for most growers.
Can I grow Tulips in pots?
I find conflicting information about this. Many bulb suppliers strongly discourage growing them in pots, while others say it’s ok. However, most sources agree that bulbs grown in pots are subject to much more stress than bulbs planted in the ground (since they have less protection from the elements) and should be discarded after they bloom.
Tulip Aftercare In Pots! What To Do When Flowering Is Over | Balconia Garden
FAQ
How to cut tulips so they regrow?
To encourage tulips to regrow, you should cut off the spent flower head but leave the leaves intact. The leaves are essential for the bulb to photosynthesize and store energy for next year’s bloom.
Do tulips rebloom after deadheading?
Do Deadheaded Tulips Come Back? Yes, deadheaded tulips will come back the next year stronger and more vibrant, thanks to the redirected energy back into the bulb. Deadheading is like giving your tulips a boost for their next performance.
Can cut tulips grow taller?
Tulips Can Grow Taller After Being Cut. Unlike most flowers, tulips continue to grow even after they’ve been cut! They can lengthen by up to an inch per day, thanks to the cells in their stems elongating as they absorb water.
Do tulips grow twice?
Many gardeners treat tulips as annuals, discarding the bulbs after blooming but with a little care and attention, you can get your tulips to bloom again the following season.